The mobile of the journalist Vera Bercovitz is to smoke. 50 Latino has just been published to follow in Spain 2025, the list of influential Latin American women prepared by Forbes magazine, and Bercovitz does not supply among those who write to thank him for his inclusion in the famous ranking and those who, in a more or less disguised way, get in touch with her in search of a position for the publication of next year. «I already have more than 20 names of women for next year's list,» he says. «Forbes is worldwide known for its lists. You have to find a niche market within women,» he recalls that he was commissioned. One day, between talks with Latin American friends about their migration stories, it occurred to him that the list he wanted was 50 Latin women to follow in Spain: women who, for one reason or another, are powerful away from their countries thanks to their work, entrepreneurships or life stories. «With my gurus I was preparing a list of women who are leaving the skin in Spain and who have incredible trajectories, which are fighting those stereotypes that many have on them when they are migrants,» he says. «I was a pioneer to highlight the talent of the collective and that fills me with pride,» he says. This month its second edition was held at a Forbes -style gala in its new private club, Forbes House. Among the 50 women are personalities such as the Colombian Verónica Durán Castillo, expert in Manila mantons and exhibition curator; The Mexican Natalia Morales, owner of Myka Greek, an artisanal ice cream that in less than two years has revolutionized the market; Ximena Caraz, director of Casa de México; the Venezuelan Johanna Müller-Kling, hospitality businesswoman; The Venezuelan Daniela Goicoechea, expert in marketing and founder of Goiko hamburgers; and the Mexican Amanda de la Garza, deputy director of the Reina Sofía Museum. The Latin community, attracted to economic stability and quality of life, has decided to call Madrid its new home. In recent years, the growing number of Latin Americans who are installed in the capital has transformed the city. According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) published in 2024, one in seven Madrid is Latin American. And this migration has a woman's face. In Spain, 46% of the immigrant population are women, according to the Women's Institute, already worldwide, women represent 48% of international migrants, according to the latest data from UN women.Actress Alejandra Azcárate, the 'Coach' Patricia Arboleda, the specialist in residential luxury Valentina Pastrana and moderator Juliana Pereira, at the Alanna meeting at the Hyatt hotel, in an act on Saturday, March 22.
From Madrid to Miami
In the US, which has a Spanish -speaking migrant community of 65 million people, Hispanic Executive magazine has also developed its own list of the leaders of 2025 They feel the basis for the next generation of leaders. So far this year, at least half a dozen events have been held for success Latin Americans to announce their projects in the capital and establish contacts. For example, the Venezuelan entrepreneurs has created the Venezuelan Women who inspire with renowned speakers. «We want to celebrate the talent and leadership of the women's women that the Spanish community has welcomed,» they say. The goal: networking. The union is strength, they say. These women are clear. Migrating is never easy, even when, as in the case of many of them, it is done from a privileged economic situation. Building a community that accepts all kinds of women, they explain, will make everyone better in Madrid. As a show of this, the Alanna platform, a community with more than 6,000 Latin professionals in Europe, brings together on Saturday, March 22 at the Hyatt Hotel in the Gran Vía Madrid to more than 75 migrant Colombian women who were looking for a community to which they belong. The day, moderated by Juliana Pereira, Community Builder, has the participation of voices such as the artist Alejandra Azcárate, the leadership coach Patricia Arboleda and the specialist in residential luxury Valentina Pastrana. During more than five hours, attendees share their migration stories, their challenges and, above all, they speak of how difficult it is to recognize their own achievements. «These are those stories that allow us to see the real life of so many women who have fought and continue to fight here, to grow and challenge each day. That is very special when you live it in community and manage to share and learn,» says Pereira. which occupied high positions in companies such as Hewlett-Packard (HP). «I had to face and overcome cultural and gender barriers. However, this experience helped me to understand the challenges faced by women and Latinas in the world of work,» he says. During his career, Arboleda was responsible for Spain and Portugal in HP, a position that connected it with the European business environment and allowed him to know the Madrid market closely. Later he played managerial roles globally. «I left Miami to get my company in Madrid,» he says. Currently, he divides his time between the two cities. Two years ago he founded Arboleda Coaching with the aim of closing the gap that prevents women and Latinas from reaching leadership positions. «I came with HP being responsible for Spain and Portugal in 2020. There I fell in love with Madrid and I always thought about returning. Now I want to open new markets here,» he says. His proposal is based on coaching and mentoring programs based on his experience and knowledge of corporate structures. Its objective: to create work environments where diversity is not an exception.
Patricia Arboleda, Executive Director and founder of Arboleda Coaching, in an image assigned by her. During the event, the attendees take the opportunity to ask her questions about her history and, above all, to look for advice, almost in the form of a therapeutic session, on how to make her way in Madrid being a migrant woman. Young voices sound like that of Valentina Pastrana, 28, who tells how she went from working in the corporate world in New York to become real estate broker in Madrid. «Reaching this city was a total change. Everything is slower here, the ways of working are different and adapting takes time,» he explains. He assures that his greatest challenge has been to find his professional path in a vital stage in which many are still deciding what they want to do. «It is an age where you are finishing studying or starting a family. I had to think what I wanted to do, how and where,» he says, in his work, Pastrana connects Latin American buyers with properties in areas such as Salamanca, Justice or Almagro. «Latinos want buildings with beautiful facades, balconies, natural light. But they also expect a different distribution, in addition to pool, gym and other comforts,» he says. As detailed, its role includes explaining cultural differences in ways of life between Latin America and Spain. «Now I dedicate myself to buy, reform and sell buildings for funds. Almost all my customers are Latin,» he adds. The event ends with a glass of wine and cross talks between women who make plans to continue seeing and being part of a WhatsApp group in which they have continued to present themselves. All messages begin the same: «My name is …, I migrated x months ago and I dedicate myself to …». All, deep down, look for the same thing: belong to a community, not have to make the way alone. The most influential Latinas begin to form their own guild in Madrid.
